Permutation lock



March 1935. 1. PODERZAJ 1,994,950

PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Jan. 15, 1933 lnuenlor I lr/an Poderz'aj Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATE NT; fo FIoE PERMUTATIQN LOCK Ivan Poderiaj, Hampstea d, London, England Application January 13,

1933, Serial No. 651,588

In Germany September 14,- 1932 v 15 Claims.

when its permutation mechanism is adjusted in,

a predetermined combination which may be changed whenever desired.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel type and arrangement of the several ad. justable members of said mechanism which are to be adjusted into proper relation by one familiar ,with the combination. A further object of my invention is to afford facilities for the proper adjustment of the registrable means independently of the spindle in respect to'the lock bolt and toy embodiments will be hereinafter more fully de-- scribed with reference thereto, and the particular features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end ofthis specification.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a permutationlock embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the lock shown in Fig. 1, in the closed-position, v

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts of the;

lock in an intermediate position, v

Fig. is a cross-section on the line II-II Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line III-4110f Fig. 2, q

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line IV-'-IV'of Fig. 2, 7

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a detail, Fig. 8 is a front elevation, Fig. 9 an axial section of guarding means, Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a bolt, 7 .Fig. 11 is a cross-section through an embodiment of the invention shaped as a padlock, and Fig. 12 shows a fragmentary section of a detail of the construction represented in Fig. 5.

In the front plate of the lock housing 1 there is rotatably and axially displaceably mounted a hollowcylinder 2 is provided with a projection 4 and serves, by means of this, asthe driving member of the lock bolt 6, 'which'is displaceablymounted. ona'projection '7' of the casing 1. 'The projection 4, by the displacement of the cylinder 2, is brought into engagement with a nose piece 5 of the bolt .6,which is actuated by a spring 8 tending to hold the bolt in the closed position.'

The opening of the bolt takes placeby rotating.

the cylinder 2 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) r after the cylinder 2 has been moved to such an extent that the projection 4 engages into the path of the nose .piece -5 (Fig.5). The cylinder 2 is provided with a 'locking' device comprising a groupof rotatable sleeves .9 concentrically arranged for the purpose of being rotated in a predetermined particular permutation position enabling said group of sleeves to be shifted. lon-' gitudinally. In the example shown, there are five such sleeves arranged onewithin the other which are, rotatable but not axially displaceable' with respect to each other. On the external sleeve 9 is arranged the cylinder 2, adapted to rotate butnot to move longitudinally thereon. The cylinder 2 isprovided with a guide pin 10 which engages in a groove 11. The sleeves 9 engage together in a' similar way by guide pins 12 and grooves '13.

The sleeves 9 (Fig. 5) are provided on their external circumferential surfaces with grooves 14 and on their'innersurfaces with spring teeth 15. The grooves 14 serve as rests to the springs 15 which snap into said grooves on the rotation of the sleeves to secure their position with respect to each other. On the'front endof the cylinder 2 is arranged an annular scale 16, the divisions of which are indicated by numbers or letters.

On t e front ends or the sleeves 9 are fixed' pointers 1'7, by which the sleeves can be rotated and. adjusted to particular divisions of; the scale.

On the rear ends of the'sleeves 9 are fixed pins 13 arranged parallelto the axis of the sleeves and disposed opposite a locking plate composed of rings and fixed to the rear wall of the lock housing 1. The rings 19 are each provided, on

the face oppositeto the sleeve, with a hole 20.

The holes 20 are capable of receiving the pins" 18 when the latter are directed co-axially with the holes inthe rings as shown in Fig. 2, for example. The position of the pins shown in Fig. 2 therefore coincides with the combination position of the holes 20, which permits the displacement of the sleeves 9 into the working position.

In this operative position the driving projection 4 engages in the path of, the nose piece .5 of the tions.

bolt in such a manner that the bolt can be opened by rotating the cylinder 2. V

The combination position of the holes 20 can be changed by adjustment of the counter rings 19 which are held in the corresponding position by a blocking member 21. This member consists of a ring fixed on a shoulder 23 of the lock housing and having arms 22 which engage in grooves 24 of the rings 19 for blocking the same.

A loop 26 is rotatably fitted at 25 on the cylinder 2 and serves as a handle in the rotation of the cylinder 2.

To prevent unauthorized adjustment of the counter rings 19, there is fitted over the blocking ring 21 a guarding member or cap 27 which is screwed on a shaft 28 provided with threadsand mounted to be rotatable and axially-movable in an axial hole 29 of the innermost ring-19. The shaft 28 is loosely arranged in a central hole 30 of the sleeves and provided with a lug 31. The

innermost sleeve is provided with a slot 32 which engages in said lug when the sleeves are. shifted into the operative position shown in Fig. 3. When the sleeves are adjusted in their predetermined position, the cap 27 can bescrewed off the shaft 28, and the blocking member may be displaced for the adjustment of the rings 19 into a different position. As shown by Figs. 8 and 9, the threaded hole of the cap is closed at the outside by a fixed wall 35, thereby preventing the danger of retaining improperly the terminal of the shaft 28 and of unpermitted unscrewing of the cap 2'7 as well as of finding out the combination position.

In order to counteract. the weight of the pins 18, and thereby make it more difficult to detect' the position of the pins-the sleevesil arexpreferably provided with insets of heavy metal arranged diametrically opposite to the pins18, and which act as, counter-balance; In the example shown in Fig. 7, each of the sleeves 9 isprovided with an auxiliary pin 18' serving as counter- 180) with respect to the pin 18 in order not to have to reduce the number of permutation posi- Holes 20 in the locking plate 19, (Fig. 4) correspond to the pins 18", which engage therein when the pins 18 are introduced into the holes 20 in the locking plate.

The plate 19 comprises stationary rings, having at their frontal surface. depressions 33... When unauthorized persons make tapering attempts in order to findthe effective position of the pins; 18 and shift the rings 9, the depressions 33 receive. the, free terminal ends. of the pins 18, so as to.

permit only incomplete and inactive shifting motions of thepins 18.

The lock can be used for purposes of anykind,

for example as a door lock according to F-ig. 4,

or a padlock according to Fig. 11, or as a locking device in which'the bolt is closed positively, .1 by spring pressure. f

The working of the lock is as follows. The position of the zero point of the movable rings 9 is selected in accordance with the posi-' tion of the rings of the plate 19 and may be indicated upon the casing 1 by means of a vertical line corresponding to the vertical diameter of the rings 19. 'The'zero line of the scale 16 is designated by-the numeral 0 and its direction site the numerals. or'letters of the scale which are selected to correspond to the: operative position of the pins of the movable rings. The sleeves are then locked in the operative position in which the projection 4 of the cylinder is in the path of the nose piece of the bolt 6 which can now be moved against the pressure of the spring 8 by rotating the cylinder 2 by hand actuating the handle 26, in order to open the lock. When thehandle 26 is released, the bolt is closed by'the spring 8. VThe group of sleeves 9 is then drawn out of engagement with the rings 19 until the pins 18 are out of engagement, whereupon the sleeves 9 can be brought into disorder.

of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with-respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking-plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, and means to secure the rings in selected position. 2. In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independentlyrotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward .said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding'sleeve,- pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on'the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, ablocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the'rings, and means to secure the blocking member in place.

3/In a permutation lock, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidablymounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently'rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter toa respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate havinga hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale'on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, and a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings.

' 4. In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleevestoward said locking plate, each ring of the looking plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale onthe-cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings, and means controlledby the longitudinal movement of the cylinder and sleeves for controlling release of the cover.

5. In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in'the casing andindependently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings, a shaft extending rotatably through said locking'plate and into the innermost sleeve, said cover being screwed on the outer end of said shaft and normally rotatable therewith, andcoacting means on the inner sleeve and inner end of theshaft for holding said shaft from rota'tionin the sleeve when the latter is moved inwardly.

6. In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported bythe opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameterto a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to'receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse,

means to rotate the cylinder, means to secure the rings in selected position, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, and

' coacting means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder. a

7. In a permutation look, a casing havinga, pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect move-:

ment of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder.

8. In a permutationllock; a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and.

slidably mounted inoneo'f-said walls, aseries of concentric sleeves'nested in the casing and in-.

dependentlyrotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supportedby the opposite walland consisting of a' series of mutually. rotatable ringseachl of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on'the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer 'ends'of the rings, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis'of the sleeves, and coacting means on the bolt and inner end of'thecylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder.

9. In a permutation lock, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatablewith respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings 'each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having ahole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said ringshaving their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings, means controlled by the longitudinal movement of the cylinder and sleeves for controlling-release of the cover, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, and coacting means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging whensleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of,

the locking plate having a hole therein to receive the locking plate having a. holetherein' to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve,pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engagingthe .grooves of the. rings, means to secure the blocking memberzin place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings, a shaft ex tending rotatably through said locking plate. and into the innermost sleeve, said cover being screwed on the outer end of said shaft and normally ro-- 'tatable therewith, coacting means on the inner sleeve-and inner end of the shaft for holding said shaft from rotation in the sleeve'when the latter is moved inwardly, a bolt. slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, and coacting means on'the bolt andinner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder." g Y 11. In a permutationnlock, a casing having a pair of spaced walls,.a cylinder-rotatably and slidably mounted in onset said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nestedin the casing and independently rotatable with, respect to'the cyl-- inder andeach other, a lockingplate'supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings .each of equal diameterto a respective sleevdpiris projecting from the sleeves toward said lockingrplate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive'thepin ofithe corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer ends ofsaid sleeves, a scale on the *cylinder over which said pointers. traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, means to secure the rings in selected position, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, and coacting means on the .bolt and inner end of the cylinder engag'ingwhen the cylinder is moved inwardly to eiiect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder, and spring pawls each carried by one of said cylinders and engaging the adjacent cylinder, said cylinders being provided with peripheral iseries oiratchet notches in which said pawls engage,

12. In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced Walls, a :cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested, in the casing and independently rotatable with'respectto the-,cylin der and each other, a locking plateirsupported by the opposite wall andconsisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the lockingplate having a hole .t erein toreceive the pin of thecorrespon'ding' sleeve, pointers on the outer ends of said sleeves; arscaleon the cylinder over whichsaid pointers traverse,-

means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking memher having arms engaging .the grooves of the rings, means to secure theblocking member in place,"a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, coacting means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder;

and spring. pawls each carried by one of said cylinders and engaging the-adjacent cylinder,-

said cylinders being provided with peripheral se-' ries of ratchet notches in which said pawls en-' 13; In a permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted inoneof said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other,-a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to ares'pective sleeve, pins projecting from thesleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive'the pin of the corresponding sleeve, poin ers on the outer ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to securejthe blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outerends of the rings, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, coacting, means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardlyto effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder, and spring pawls each carried by one of said cylinders and engaging the adjacent cylinder, said cylinders being provided with. peripheral series of ratchet notches in which said pawls engage.

14. In ja'permutation look, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in'one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking'plate having a hole therein to receivethe pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outer'ends of said sleeves, a scale on the cylinder over which said pointers traverse, means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking member having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings, means'controlled by the longitudinal movement of the cylinder and sleeves for controlling release of the cover, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis 'of the sleeves, coacting means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to effect movement of the bolt upon rotation of the cylinder, and spring pawls each carried by one of said cylinders and engaging the adjacent cylinder, said cylinders being provided with peripheral series of ratchet notches in which said pawls engage. p

15. In a permutaton lock, a casing having a pair of spaced walls, a cylinder rotatably and slidably mounted in one of said walls, a series of concentric sleeves nested in the casing and independently rotatable with respect to the cylinder and each other, a locking plate supported by the opposite wall and consisting of a series of mutually rotatable rings each of equal diameter to a respective sleeve, pins projecting from the sleeves-toward said locking plate, each ring of the locking plate having a hole therein to receive the pin of the corresponding sleeve, pointers on the outerendsof said'sleeves, a scale on thecylindercyer which said pointers traverse,

means to rotate the cylinder, said rings having their outer ends grooved radially, a blocking memher having arms engaging the grooves of the rings, means to secure the blocking member in place, a detachable cover extending over the blocking member and outer ends of the rings,'a shaft extending rotatably through said locking plate and into the innermost sleeve, said. cover being screwed on the outer end of said shaft and normally rotatable therewith, coacting means on the inner sleeve and inner end of the shaft for holding said shaft from rotation in the sleeve when the latter is moved inwardly, a bolt slidable in said casing transverse the axis of the sleeves, coacting means on the bolt and inner end of the cylinder engaging when the cylinder is moved inwardly to eflect movement ofthe bolt upon rotation of the cylinder, and spring pawls each carried by one of said cylinders and engaging the adjacent cylinder, said cylinders being provided with peripheral series of ratchet notches in which said pawls engage.

IVAN PODERZAJ. 

